If you were to do it all over again, what platform would you buy?

[glenwolde]

If I was to totally ignore my bias I'm sad to say probably Glock. It's the K-frame of today.

Given my history I wouldn't attempt the change now. But those days are gone and not repeatable in a practical sense.

 

[diyj98]

I've been thorough a number of them over the years. I went all in on third gen S&W's but they didn't really meet my needs, then I was a 1911 guy with full size, compact, 380's, then moved on to Sig which were great guns, but I lost interest. I still own 1911's, Sig's, Beretta, etc, but Glock has been my primary centerfire automatics. The price is decent, they're reliable, and accurate enough for their intended purpose.

 

[The Norseman]

Wiser

If I had to do it over, I would have purchased
that John Deere tractor/loader 15 years ago.

At least I could get that platform serviced today.
My current tractor is very hard to get service.

 

[peterGun]

I started with revolvers but in 2003 started buying semiautos thanks to Ohio’s pending CCW law.

Currently I have only 1 revolver with everything else being semis and yes I’m comfortable with my choice, take away CCW and I can’t say it would have played out the same.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hair Trigger]

Knowing what you know currently... If you were starting all over again, which platform would you buy first??

First? probably a 1911; but I wouldn't change any of my choices made over the years, except I wouldn't have bought the polymer guns I have, which are very few anyway.

 

[otis24]

J frame 640 and 3 inch K frame. If I was going for an auto, S&W Shield Plus.

 

[walnutred]

I would have picked up a few Class 3s when you could get a Sten for $350 and a BAR or Thompson for around a grand.

 

[kbm6893]

Hard to answer because needs change. I used to be exclusively 3rd Gen and Beretta 92. Similar manual of arms and high quality. But for carry, they’ve been retired to range use and home defense. They’re not suitable for carry for me. Too big and heavy and better options available. But the 3rd Gen isn’t supported anymore, so I doubt I’d be carrying them even if the size and weight wasn’t an issue. If S&W makes a DA/SA version of the CSX, I’m very interested. No desire to carry cocked and locked.

If I was just getting started out, I’d be all in in the M&P line. I have several. Much better than Glock, in my opinion. A friend of mine who is a long time Glock guy even admits if he wasn’t so invested in them he’d be all M&P. Better options and better ergonomics.

1911’s are niche guns. I only have 1, a 1944 Colt US Army. Love the gun, but 1911’s have zero appeal to me other than a genuine military one, and only then, for the history of it.

 

[ladder13]

No regrets about anything.

 

[kbm6893]

If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t have sold some of the primo Smith and Ruger revolvers I’ve owned, bought cheap and sold for not much more, but are worth more more today than they were when I sold them. I doubt I’ll ever have regrets selling any plastic gun. I have several and they have a place, but pride of ownership isn’t one of them.

 

[ken158]

Great question and maybe some of the young guys will learn from the comments or at least think twice… In my era of being a LEO, we started with revolvers and transitioned to autos. A few of my LEO assignments allowed me to carry whatever and a lightweight commander got the nod before other groups were allowed autos. In retrospect, Sig P series guns were my favorite. The DA first shot makes you think about your target acquisition, sight picture, etc and I like the de-cock ability. I carried a 225, 226,229 and 239 in different jobs. I still have my 239 and 229. The guys still on the job now carry Glock due to budget constraints and as noted, they are the “model 10 of yesteryear”. The new fad of striker fired guns scare me as an accomplished shooter and range instructor when watching the younger crowd handle them. We will never know how many AD’s occur across the country but there are a lot more than are realized with striker fired guns. My last comment is to the guys that are so proud of their new CCW card and their “rotation” of available handguns. Seasonal carry rotation is one thing but different guns for different days of the week can spell disaster when if in the remote possibility your carry piece is ever needed, you do not want to process what it is today and how to operate it. Time if of the essence and if you need time to process then you should not shoot or may have already been shot.

 

[ruger 22]

This is the order I would buy at this point----Browning High power, K-22, Remington 1100 fixed choke, Ruger 10/22, Ruger single six, Remington 700 in 22/250, Any Weatherby magnum from .257-.300 with preference to the lower end.

 

[Patrick L]

Perazzi MX8

 

[BAM-BAM]

Model 39s...... stayed away do to the "rumors" of easily broken extractors.

CZ's pistols..... 75s and their Compacts CZ P-01

 

[cmj8591]

With the clarity of hind sight, I would have spent more time obsessing over developing my skills and less time thinking about my equipment.

 

[Fishinfool]

I like semi-auto's, revolvers, bolt actions, lever actions, single shots, doubles, and pump actions, and try to limit myself to just those "platform" types.

Larry

 

[Rosco Shooter]

I have purchased several medium priced pistols over the years. If I had it to do all over again, I would save my money, and wait until I had enough to buy a Wilson Combat, Les Baer, etc. As I believe Patrick Sweeney says, "buy once, cry once."

 

[robvious]

I would not change much of anything as far as what and when.. it gave me knowledge and helped make me... well me.. and that is not a bad thing.

 

[Jim PHL]

I agree with @robvious in that I like the general knowledge my approach has given me. I may have gotten into 1911’s sooner than I did. I always avoided them because they were an “expert’s/operator’s gun”. Other than managing ‘cocked and locked’ if you’re going to carry one, I don’t believe that’s the case.
Other than that, I know it’s blasphemy here, but I might have tried to build a preference for the CZ’s, Sigs or Berettas that are still being produced over my beloved but discontinued 3rd Gen Smiths. I couldn’t help myself at the time. I just liked the Smiths more than the others, but if I knew they’d be discontinued I may have forced myself to one of the others.

 

[Rodan]

I started in S&W revolvers and 1911s (Colts, because there weren't quality alternatives then). 1911 was what I carried when I started my career, and as my shooting became more work focused, the revolvers fell by the wayside. Eventually I switched to the S&W M&P, which offered the advantages of the Glock, without the 2x4 grip, and extreme grip angle. It also dropped 2lbs off my duty belt vs. a steel 1911 while doubling my ammo supply. A thing of no small consequence when your closest buddy might be 30 minutes or more in getting there.

With retirement rapidly approaching, I rekindled my interest recreational shooting in general, and in S&W revolvers in particular.

I wouldn't change a thing... except to keep some of the guns I let slip away when I was young and had far less 'gun money' to play with. And I would have bought that Thompson in 2002 for $3500...